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(No Model.)

J. H. PIN-K. INTEBGHANGBABLE, INITIAL FINGER RING.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT Germs.

JOSEPH H. FINK, OF NEW' YORK, Y.

INTERCHANG'EABLE-IINITIAL FINGER-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,080, dated August 2, 1892.

Application filed April 14, 1891- Serial No. 388,873. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. FINK, of New York city, in the county and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Interchangeable-Initial Finger-Ring, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The objects of this invention are to provide a novel, simple, and compact device which will afford means to readily detach an initial letter from the stone-setting and insert another letter without injury to the ring or setting, the connection of the parts being neat and reliable.

To these ends my invention consists in'the construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a transverse section of a ring With the preferred letter-locking device in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a face View of a finger-ring, showing the preferred form for retaining an initial letter in place, the setting being removed from the border or bezel of the ring to expose the device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of an initial letter, taken on the line 3 3 in Figs. 1 and 5, with a part of the scouring device thereon. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a finger-ring and parts connected therewith, showing a modified form for retaining the initialletter in place removably, and Fig. 5 is an exterior view of the ring complete.

The hoop A of the ring and shank portions to of the same that connect the hoop with the bezel-frame b and box B, wherein the setting is embedded, may be of any desired pattern and be given any preferred ornamentation.

The box B (shown as a rectangular bordered cavity) may have its bezel edge Y) shaped to suit the design or pattern desired and the stone 0 or other setting contained Within the box be adapted to fit the bezel, so as to be held from lateral movement in the box.

WVithin the box B, near the bezel edges, which are in planes parallel with the hoop A, two ledges c are formed or secured, whereon the setting 0 is imposed when in place, said ledges conforming on their upper edges with the degree of curvature of the ring or hoop A and of the box B, that is a continuation of said hoop. The height of the ledges c is proportional to the depth of the box and thickness of the setting, so that the latter may be correctly retained by the bezel edge or frame Z), and also to afford sufficient room for the 1ntroduction and attachment of the preferred locking-pieces that hold the initial letter D securely upon the setting 0. The parts which retain the letter D upon the stone or other setting 0 consist of two keeper-rods cl,wh1ch are located, preferably, at about the trans verse center of the box B and have their ends embedded in the side walls of the ledges 0, so as to retain the rods parallel with each other and at right angles to the ledges where1n they are inserted. A proper space is allowed between the keeper-rods b, which are made preferably of steel wire, so as to be slightly elastic,

and thus permit insertion between them of the ends of the locking-bars e, which project from the lower surface of the initial letterD, said bars having arrow-shaped heads on their free ends, which project their angular corners in opposite directions toward the rods when the letter is placed in position for attachment to the ring.

There are preferably two locking-bars 6 used to hold the letter D in place; but more may be provided, or one only may be employed if the ring and letter are small.

The setting 0 should be perforated at correct'points for the insertion of the lockingbars 2, which when introduced may be caused to enter their arrow-heads between the bars and be there retained by the resumption of parallelism of the latter, owing to their elasticity.

At any time it may be desired to exchange the initial letter or similar ornamentation held, as stated, on the ring for a different letter or design, such as a monogram to suit the name of the party who is to Wear the ring, the letter may be removed by the use of a thin wed ge-shaped tool between the letter and setting, which will dislodge the arrow-heads of the locking-bars 6. Then the letter may be dropped from its place and the desired letter or other design be substituted, it being understood that similar locking-bars are secured upon the different initial letters for a range of sizes of rings, so that a customer may be fitted with a ring of the style preferred and his initial placed on the selected ring if it is necessary to interchange initials for such a purpose.

In Fig. 4 a slightly-modified form for the securing device is shown, and consists in the provision of a single channetbar g, which is substituted for the parallel keeper-rods (1, said channel-bar being formed of elastic sheet metal bent to afford two longitudinal flanges that hook toward each other, and thus are adapted to receive the arrow-heads of the locking-bars 8 between their edges, which have sufficient elasticity to resume a normal condition and hold the initial letter in place.

While it is preferred to dispose the parallel keeper-rods (Z in the position shown, it is evident that these may be arranged in a transverse or diagonal direction with regard to the box B and effect the desired result. Hence I do not wish to limit the location to the exact position shown, claiming the right to vary therefrom within the manifest spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an interchangeable-initial finger-ring, the combination, with the box of the ring and a perforated setting, of an initial letter or like character having arrow-headed locking-bars, which pass through perforations of the setting, enter the boX below, and engage removably with a laterally elastic securing device that is firmly attached to the bezel of the box or ledges thereon,substantially as described.

2. In an in terchangeablednitial finger-ring, the combination, with a ring having a box attached to its hoop portion, a setting which is perforated, and seats in the box, and an initial letter for the ring, of two parallel keeper-rods that are elastic and are affixed by their ends to ledges in the box and one or more lockingbars which have one end afiixed to theinitial letter, pass through the perforated setting, and interlock arrow-heads on their free ends between the keeper-rods, substantially as described.

JOS. ll. FINK.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. WOLF, WILLIAM FLEss. 

